CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

Merry Christmas to all.

Christmas is an invitation for us to taste the forbidden fruits of Eden: 

                         to experience what is untouchable, 

                         to listen what cannot be heard, 

                         to see what is not visible and 

                         to know what cannot be known with human intellect 

that is the person of Jesus Christ in our world today. 

Jesus, god made man, in him we have the vision, the touch and taste of divinity. 

There was a time when man was banned to touch and taste the divine fruit of Eden. But today God invites us to taste and see his first fruit.

There was a time when men were afraid to look at anything divine, fearing mortality; but today we are invited to join the shepherds to go and see. 

In the form of this little baby we experience the unimaginable dimensions of human reasoning, coming true with divine light.

                    I wish and pray that may this Christmas be an occasion for all of us to see the divinity in the kindness of our hearts, to touch God in the love of our family and friends, to taste Jesus through the eucharist and to see god in our broader vision of humanity.  

May the baby Jesus bless all of us!

Landscape

In retrospective

(As you know, I just started writing, as such i am recalling events from last month. some may not be in sequential order.)

Within the first week of my arrival I had the opportunity to see two of our parishes Magumoni and Mkubene. These parishes are very vibrant. I joined the mass in one of the small centres under Mkubene to celebrate the feast of Christ the king. From there we travelled to Nanjuki. We have a child support program in Nanjuki. But my friends  stay in Norumoro. Nanjuki is a bigger town in the foothills, with hotels and restaurants. 

 Noru Moro,  is a small town in the foothills of Mt. Kenya. It provides one of the accesses for hikers to the mountain. This is a beautiful landscape. It was relatively cold overnight comparing to other places.

Here are some of the photos of the landscape:

The hills and tea plantations near Mkubene and NKubu area of Kenya. 

The beautiful high way and greenery with the rains.

Wide open lands and farms cultivated by multi-national companies on the way to Nanjuki.

There are greenhouses growing Roses, other flowers and vegetables.

Somewhere between these hills and valleys - the new International airport in Isiola will be built.

WELCOME

Often you hear a lot, you see photos, you talk to people who live in situ, still when you encounter a new land it offers many a surprise.

          For my sabbatical, I had the opportunity to come to Kenya in Africa. The region where my religious community works had many surprises to offer. Contrary to the images of vast open 'safari' lands, the mountains and valleys, the mangoes and bananas, tea and coffee… the list of thick, lush greenery goes on. From Nairobi to Embu to Meru to Naro Moru - to the foothills of Mt. Kenya, every region had its uniqueness. From vast open lands near Nairobi to thick green plantations, to forests, to paddy fields in Mwea, from pastures to mountains this part of Kenya is beautiful and rich in resources. The people are well dressed, often very formal and appeared very healthy. As this region surrounds the west side of Mt. Kenya, it's relatively cold and not too hot.